What is the recommended patient positioning for a lateral tibia and fibula radiograph?

• A. Standing upright with knee extended
• B. Seated or lying on the affected side
• C. Supine with knee extended
• D. Prone with leg flexed

Answer: (B)

To get a true lateral view of the tibia and fibula, the leg must lie in a single plane with slight knee flexion so the tibia and fibula can be seen in profile without rotation. The recommended position is seated or lying on the affected side. This setup stabilizes the limb and keeps it in the true lateral alignment, which is essential to assess fractures and bone alignment accurately. Standing upright with the knee extended would produce an AP view from the front, not a lateral view. Supine with the knee extended is also an AP projection, and prone with the leg flexed would rotate the limb away from the true lateral position, making it harder to evaluate the bones in profile.